Eyeglasses having interchangeable lenses and attachment clips

ABSTRACT

Eyeglasses having interchangeable lenses which are held in place by inner and outer lens attachment clips mounted at the bridge and temple, respectively, of the frame. The frame and/or lens is resilient so that the frame or lens can resiliently deform to allow the lenses to slide from beneath the lens attachment clips, yet the frame securely holds the lenses in place during use.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to eyeglasses, and more particularly, toeyeglasses having easily interchangeable lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are presently a wide variety of eyewear styles, includingsunglasses, that are commercially available. These sunglasses vary bothin the style of the frame and the optical characteristics of the lensesmounted in the frame. The need for a wide variety of lenscharacteristics stems at least in part from the variety of circumstancesunder which sunglasses are used. For example, blue-tinted lenses areoften considered superior for boating and other water-relatedactivities. Neutral-density lenses are considered superior where it isundesirable for the sunglass lenses to change the perceived color ofobjects. Personal preference also plays a role in the variety of lenstints that are commercially available. Even for a given lens color,different degrees of optical density (i.e., “opaqueness”) are oftendesired, depending upon lighting conditions and personal preference. Forexample, a higher optical density may be desired for midday conditions,particularly in highly reflective environments such as snow, while alower optical density may be preferred later in the day, particularly inless reflective environments. As a result, there is a need for asunglass lens to have a wide variety of optical properties.

In the past, it has been difficult for users to select the optimal lensfor the wide variety of conditions in which sunglasses are worn. Notonly is there an often prohibitive expense in purchasing sunglasses fora variety of conditions, but there is also the inconvenience of carryingaround different sunglasses for different conditions which may varyduring a single day. For example, for a skier to have the optimum lenson a partly cloudy day, it would be necessary for the skier to carry atleast two pairs of sunglasses having lenses with different opticaldensities. As a result of the costs and inconvenience of havingdifferent sunglasses available for different conditions, most sunglasswearers do not have the optimum lens much of the time. Instead, thesunglass wearer must compromise on a lens that, while not optimum forany lighting condition or activity, is at least somewhat satisfactoryfor all lighting conditions and activities.

It would be possible for sunglasses to have a wide variety of opticalcharacteristics if the lenses could be easily and quickly removed fromthe sunglass frames. The wearer would then only need to purchase andcarry a variety of lenses. A suitable selection of lenses would be farmore compact and less expensive than a comparable selection ofeyeglasses. However, lenses are preferably removed from conventionalsunglass frames only by optical professionals. Furthermore, frequentremoval and reinstallation of lenses in conventional sunglass framestend to weaken the frictional connection between a lens and frame sothat eventually the lens would become loose enough to fall out duringstrenuous activity.

As a result of the limitations of conventional sunglasses, there is aneed for sunglasses that allow the optical properties of the sunglasslenses to be easily and quickly varied by the wearer in a convenientmanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive eyeglasses include a frame having a bridge interconnectinga pair of frame sections. Each frame section includes upper and lowerframe members extending from the bridge to respective attachment areas.A pair of temples or other securing devices are attached to theattachment areas of respective frame sections. A lens is releasably heldin place in each frame section by inner and outer lens attachment clipsthat extend along at least one of the frame members to retain the lensagainst the frame members. The inner lens attachment clip extends fromthe bridge part of the way toward the attachment area, and the outerlens attachment clip extends from the attachment area part of the waytoward the bridge so that the inner and outer lens attachment clips areseparated from each other by a gap. The frame or the lenses arefabricated from a resiliently compliant material so that the frame orlenses may be resiliently deformed to allow the lenses to be installedin and removed from respective fame sections.

The lens attachment clips preferably extend along outer surfaces of theframe members so that the lens attachment clips are visible along theouter surfaces of the lenses when the eyeglasses are being worn. Theinner and outer lens attachment clip of each frame section may extendalong either or both of the upper and lower frame members. Lenses may beinstalled and removed from the frame easily using a variety oftechniques in which the lens is installed and removed from either of twodirections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the inventiveeyeglasses.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 2—2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the inventiveeyeglasses.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing one technique for installing a lensin a frame of the eyeglasses shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing one technique for removing a lensfrom a frame of the eyeglasses shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another technique for installing alens in a frame of the eyeglasses shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing another technique for removing a lensfrom a frame of the eyeglasses shown in FIG. 1.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the inventive eyeglasses is shown in FIG. 1. Theeyeglasses are embodied in sunglasses 10 having lenses 12, 14 mounted ina frame, generally indicated at 20. The frame 20 includes two framesections 22, 24 interconnected by a bridge 26. Nose pads 28 projectdownwardly from the bridge 26 to comfortably support the frame 20 on thenose of a wearer.

Each frame section 22, 24 includes an upper frame member 30 and a lowerframe member 32, both of which extend from the bridge 26 to anattachment area 36. A pair of temples 38 are pivotally secured torespective attachment areas 36 in a conventional manner. However, othersecuring devices, such as straps extending between the attachment areas36 behind the head of the wearer, may be used.

The lens 12 is shown installed in the right frame section 22, and thelens 14 is shown removed from the left frame section 24. As is mostapparent in the drawing of the left frame section 24 without the lens14, the frame section 24 includes an inner lens attachment clip 40 andan outer lens attachment clip 42. The inner lens attachment clip 40includes a leg 44 that extends upwardly along the upper frame member 30and a leg 46 that extends downwardly along the lower frame member 32.(It should be noted that the terms “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “front,”“rear,” and the like as used herein are with reference to theorientation of the eyeglasses as they are normally worn). The outer lensattachment clip 42 includes an upper leg 48 that extends upwardly alongthe upper frame member 30 and a lower leg 49 that extends downwardlyalong the lower frame member 32. Since the lens attachment clips 40, 42extend only part of the way toward each other, a gap is formed betweenthe lens attachment clips 40, 42.

With reference also to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the clips 40,42, including their respective legs 44, 46 48, and 49 are spaced fromthe forward surface of the upper and lower frame members 30, 32. Thespacing between the clips 40, 42 and the frame members 30, 32 ispreferably slightly less than the thickness of the lens 14. Since theframe 20 is preferably formed from a resilient material, such asresilient plastic, the lens resiliently deforms the clips 40, 42 and/orframe members 30, 32 to securely hold the lens 14 in position. As alsoshown in FIG. 2, the forward/rearward curvature of the upper and lowerframe members 30, 32, respectively, conforms to the forward/rearwardcurvature of the lens 14 so that the rear edges of the lens 14 areeither in contact or closely adjacent the forward surfaces of the framemembers 30, 32.

Another embodiment of the inventive eyeglasses is illustrated in FIG. 3.The eyeglass 50 shown in FIG. 3 is substantially identical to theeyeglass 10 shown in FIG. 1, and substantially identical components havetherefore been given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in theinterest of brevity, an explanation of these substantially identicalcomponents will not be repeated.

The eyeglass 50 shown in FIG. 3 differ from the eyeglass 10 shown inFIG. 1 in the configuration of the outer lens attachment clip 52. Morespecifically, the lens attachment clip 52 includes an upper leg 54 thatextends a relatively long distance along the upper frame member 30.Unlike the lens attachment clip 42 shown in FIG. 1, the lens attachmentclip 52 does not include a downwardly extending leg.

A variety of techniques can be used to remove the lenses 12, 14 from theframe 20, with the optimum technique depending upon the specific frameand lens structures and the preference of the user. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the lens 14 can be installed from the top of the frame 20 byplacing the outer edge of the lens 14 beneath the outer lens attachmentclip 42 and the lower inner edge of the lens 14 beneath the upper leg 44of the inner lens attachment clip 40. The user then exerts a force onthe upper edge of the lens 14 in a downward direction (i.e., toward thelower frame member 32), thereby forcing the remainder of the inner edgeof the lens 14 beneath the inner lens attachment clip 40. As shown inFIG. 4, the force is preferably applied to the edge of the lens 14 at alocation that is closer to the inner lens attachment clip 40 than it isto the outer lens attachment clip 42. Under some circumstances, it mayalso be necessary to hold the lens 14 against the frame members 30, 32while the lens is being pushed beneath the clip 40 to keep the lensbetween the clip 40 and the frame members 30, 32.

The lens 14 can be removed from the frame 20 as shown in FIG. 5. Theuser applies a force to the lower edge of the lens 14 adjacent the innerlens attachment clip 40. Because of the resilient nature of the frame 20and/or lens 14, the lens 14 slides out from underneath the lensattachment clip 40, thereby removing the lens 14 from the frame 20.After removal of the lens 14, another lens having different opticalcharacteristics, such as tint or optical density, can be reinstalled inthe frame 20 as shown in FIG. 4.

In addition to installing the lens 14 from the top of the frame 20, thelens 14 can also be installed from the bottom of the frame 20, asillustrated in FIG. 6. In fact, installation from the bottom ispreferred for frames such as that illustrated in FIG. 3 having lensattachment clips 52 that are substantially more extensive along theupper frame member 30 than they are along the lower frame member 32. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, the inner edge of the lens 14 is placed beneaththe inner lens attachment clip 40 and a force is applied to the loweredge of the lens 14 adjacent the outer lens attachment clip 52. Asbefore, it may be necessary to hold the lens 14 against the framemembers 30, 32 as the lens 14 slides beneath the lens attachment clip52. As before, the resiliency of the frame 20 and/or lens maintains thelens 14 tightly secured within the frame 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the lens 14 can be removed from the frame 20by applying a force to the upper edge of the lens 14 directeddownwardly, i.e., toward the lower frame member 32, thereby causing thelens 14 to slide from beneath the outer lens attachment clip 52. Afterthe lens 14 has been removed from the lens attachment clip 52, its inneredge can be removed easily from beneath the inner lens attachment clip40.

It should be reemphasized that the installation and removal techniquesshown in FIGS. 4-7 are illustrative only and other techniques maytherefore be used depending upon the specific lens and frame structureof the eyeglasses. Also, although specific eyewear styles are shown inFIGS. 1-3, it will be understood that other eyewear styles may bedevised without departing from the invention. For example, the clips 40,44 may be positioned behind the frame members 30, 32 so that the clips40, 42 hold the lens 14 behind the frame members 30, 32. Othervariations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.Furthermore, although the inventive eyeglasses are described primarilyas sunglasses, it will be understood that the invention may also beapplied to prescription eyewear.

From the foregoing, it will therefore be evident that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention and the claims contained herein.

I claim:
 1. Eyeglasses having interchangeable lenses, comprising: a pairof eyeglass lenses; a frame having a bridge interconnecting a pair offrame sections, each frame section including upper and lower framemembers extending from said bridge to respective attachment areas, eachof said frame sections further including an inner lens attachment clipextending from said bridge part of the way toward said attachment areaand an outer lens attachment clip extending from said attachment areapart of the way toward said bridge so that said inner and outer lensattachment clips are separated from each other by a gap, the lensattachment clips of each frame section retaining respective lensesbetween said clips and at least one of said frame members, said frame orsaid lenses being fabricated from a resiliently compliant material sothat said frame or lenses may be deformed to allow said lenses to beinstalled in and removed from respective fame sections; and a securingdevice attached to the attachment areas of said frame sections to retainsaid frame on the face of a wearer.
 2. The eyeglasses of claim 1 whereinsaid securing device comprises a pair of temples attached to respectiveattachment areas of said frame sections.
 3. The eyeglasses of claim 1wherein said lens attachment clips are positioned on outer surfaces ofsaid frame sections so that said lens attachment clips are visible whensaid eyeglasses are being worn.
 4. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein theinner lens attachment clip of each frame section extends along the upperand lower frame members of said frame section.
 5. The eyeglasses ofclaim 1 wherein the outer lens attachment clip of each frame sectionextends along the upper and lower frame members of said frame section.6. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer lens attachmentclips of each frame section extend along the upper and lower framemembers of said frame section.
 7. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein theouter lens attachment clip of each frame section extends along only theupper frame member of said frame section.
 8. The eyeglasses of claim 1further including a plurality of lens pairs, each of said lens pairshaving a tint that differs from the tint of each other lens pair.
 9. Theeyeglasses of claim 1 wherein said frame is fabricated from aresiliently compliant material so that said frame may be deformed toallow said lenses to be installed in and removed from respective famesections.
 10. The eyeglasses of claim 1 wherein said lenses arefabricated from a resiliently compliant material so that said lenses maybe deformed to allow said lenses to be installed in and removed fromrespective fame sections.
 11. An eyeglass frame adapted to receiveinterchangeable lenses, said frame comprising: a bridge; a first pair ofupper and lower frame members extending from said bridge to a firstattachment area; a second pair of upper and lower frame membersextending from said bridge to a second attachment area, said second pairof upper and lower frame members extending from said bridge in adirection opposite the direction that said first pair of upper and lowerframe members extend from said bridge, said frame members beingfabricated from a resiliently compliant material; a first lensattachment clip extending from said bridge part of the way toward saidfirst attachment area; a second lens attachment clip extending from saidfirst attachment area part of the way toward said bridge so that saidfirst and second lens attachment clips extend toward each other but areseparated from each other by a gap, the first and second lens attachmentclips being adapted to retain a lens between said clips and at least oneof said frame members; a third lens attachment clip extending from saidbridge part of the way toward said second attachment area; and a fourthlens attachment clip extending from said second attachment area part ofthe way toward said bridge so that said third and fourth lens attachmentclips extend toward each other but are separated from each other by agap, the third and fourth lens attachment clips being adapted to retaina lens between said clips and at least one of said frame members. 12.The eyeglass frame of claim 11 wherein said lens attachment clips arepositioned so that said attachment clips contact the outer surface ofrespective lenses when said lenses are positioned between said clips andsaid frame members.
 13. The eyeglass frame of claim 11 wherein saidfirst and third lens attachment clips extend along the upper and lowerframe members of said frame.
 14. The eyeglass frame of claim 11 whereinsaid second and fourth lens attachment clips extend along the upper andlower frame members of said frame.
 15. The eyeglass frame of claim 11wherein said first, second, third, and fourth lens attachment clipsextend along the upper and lower frame members of said frame.
 16. Theeyeglass frame of claim 11 wherein said second and fourth lensattachment clips extend along only respective upper frame members ofsaid frame.
 17. The eyeglass frame of claim 11 wherein said framemembers are fabricated from a resiliently compliant material so thatsaid frame members may be deformed to allow said lenses to be installedin and removed from said frame.
 18. A method of changing eyeglass lensesin an eyeglass frame, said frame having a bridge interconnecting a pairof frame sections, each frame section including upper and lower framemembers extending from said bridge to respective attachment areas, eachof said frame sections further including an inner lens attachment clipextending from said bridge part of the way toward said attachment areaand an outer lens attachment clip extending from said attachment areapart of the way toward said bridge so that said inner and outer lensattachment clips are separated from each other by a gap, said methodcomprising: removing a lens from each of said frame sections by exertinga force on an edge of said lens adjacent one of said frame members in adirection extending generally parallel to a surface of said lens andtoward the other of said frame members while allowing said frame membersand/or said lens to deform thereby removing said lens from between saidlens attachment clips and said frame members; and installing anotherlens in each said frame sections by placing an edge of said lens betweensaid attachment clips and said frame sections and then exerting a forceon an edge of said lens adjacent the other of said frame member in adirection extending generally parallel to a surface of said lens andtoward said one frame member while allowing said frame members and/orsaid lens to deform thereby installing said lens in said frame betweensaid lens attachment clips and said frame members.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 wherein said lens is removed by exerting a force on an edge ofsaid lens adjacent said upper frame member in a direction extendingtoward said lower frame member and installed by exerting a force on anedge of said lens adjacent said lower frame member in a direction towardsaid upper frame member.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein said lens isremoved by exerting a force on an edge of said lens adjacent said lowerframe member in a direction extending toward said upper frame member andinstalled by exerting a force on an edge of said lens adjacent saidupper frame member in a direction toward said lower frame member. 21.The method of claim 18 wherein said forces are exerted a on the edge ofsaid lens at a location that is closer to said inner lens attachmentclip than it is to said outer lens attachment clip.
 22. The method ofclaim 18 wherein said lens is installed by placing an edge of said lensbetween said outer attachment clip and at least one of said framemembers and then exerting a force on the edge of said lens at a locationthat is closer to said inner lens attachment clip than it is to saidouter lens attachment clip.
 23. Eyeglasses, comprising: a pair ofeyeglass lenses; a frame having a pair of frame sections and a bridgeinterconnecting the frame sections, each frame section including upperand lower frame members extending from the bridge to respectiveattachment areas, each frame section further including an outerattachment clip and an inner attachment clip, the inner attachment clipextending from the bridge toward the attachment areas, the innerattachment clip having at least one leg member that extends along theupper or lower frame member, the leg member being spaced from the upperor lower frame member to form a slot between the leg member and theupper or lower frame member to receive a respective one of the lensestherebetween; and a securing device attached to the attachment areas ofthe frame sections to retain the frame on the face of a wearer.
 24. Theeyeglasses of claim 23 wherein the attachment clips of each framesection extends from the bridge or the respective attachment areas alongone of the respective upper and lower frame members.
 25. The eyeglassesof claim 23 wherein the attachment clip of each frame section extendsfrom the bridge or the respective attachment areas along both the upperand lower frame members.
 26. The eyeglasses of claim 23 wherein theinner attachment clip extends from the bridge and the outer attachmentclip extends from the attachment areas and each of the inner and outerattachment clips extends along both the upper and lower frame members.27. Eyeglasses, comprising: a pair of eyeglass lenses; a frame having apair of frame sections and a bridge interconnecting the frame sections,each frame section including upper and lower frame members extendingfrom the bridge to respective attachment areas, each frame sectionfurther including an inner and outer attachment clip adjacent to aportion of the frame section, at least one of the inner or outerattachment clips having a leg member that extends part of the way alongat least one of the upper or lower frame members, the leg member beingspaced from the at least one of the upper or lower frame members to forma slot between the leg member and the at least one of the upper or lowerframe members to receive a respective one of the lenses therebetween,the attachment clips configured and sized to leave a gap exposing atleast one portion of the frame section allowing the lens to be placedbetween and be removed from between the gap.
 28. The eyeglasses of claim27 wherein the inner attachment clip of each frame section extends fromthe bridge.
 29. The eyeglasses of claim 27 wherein the outer attachmentclip of each frame section extends toward the bridge.
 30. The eyeglassesof claim 27 wherein the inner attachment clip extends from the bridgetoward the attachment area and the outer attachment clip extends fromthe attachment areas toward the bridge.
 31. The eyeglasses of claim 27wherein the frame or the lenses comprise resiliently compliant material.32. The eyeglasses of claim 27 wherein the at least one attachment clipis positioned on surfaces of the frame section opposite other surfacesthat are adjacent a wearer wearing the eyeglasses.
 33. The eyeglasses ofclaim 27 wherein each frame section further includes: upper and lowerframe members extending from the bridge to respective attachment areas;and a securing device attached to the attachment areas to retain theframe on a wearer.
 34. The eyeglasses of claim 27 further including asecuring device attached to the attachment areas of the frame sectionsto retain the frame on the face of a wearer, wherein the securing devicecomprises a pair of temples attached to respective attachment areas ofthe frame sections.
 35. Eyeglasses, comprising: a pair of eyeglasslenses; a frame having a pair of frame sections and a bridgeinterconnecting the frame sections, each frame section including upperand lower frame members extending from the bridge to respectiveattachment areas, each frame section further including an innerattachment clip and an outer attachment clip, the outer attachment cliphaving at least one leg member that extends along at least one framemember toward the bridge, the leg member being spaced from the at leastone frame member to form a slot between the leg member and the at leastone frame member to receive a respective one of the lenses therebetween;and a securing device attached to the attachment areas of the framesections to retain the frame on the face of a wearer.
 36. The eyeglassesof claim 35 wherein the attachment clips of each frame section extendsalong one of the respective upper and lower frame members.
 37. Theeyeglasses of claim 35 wherein the attachment clip of each frame sectionextends along both the upper and lower frame members.
 38. The eyeglassesof claim 35 wherein the inner attachment clip extends from the bridgeand the outer attachment clip extends from the attachment areas and eachof the inner and outer attachment clips extend along both the upper andlower frame members.